From 4 to 5 November, 2021, the Chinese Language Training and Capacity Building Workshop of ASEAN (Cambodia) was co-organised by the Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia (MOTC) and the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC). Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ACC, Mr. Pak Sokhom, Secretary of State of MOTC addressed the opening session on the morning of 4 November. Local Chinese tour guides and other tourism practitioners from such well-known destinations as Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanouk Vile attended the two days online training programme. 

Secretary-General Chen Dehai thanked MOTC and relevant academic partners including Beijing Union University for their long-time support to ACC’s initiatives. This year marks the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-China dialogue relations and the ASEAN-China Year of Sustainable Development Cooperation. The all-round cooperation between the two sides has been continuously deepening. At present, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic hinders international travels, but the bright future of tourism industry has never diminished. Human resources development and capacity building will play an important role in revitalising tourism industry and maintaining its sustainable development. 

Secretary of State Pak Sokhom, who is also High Representative of Dr. THONG Khon, Minister of Tourism of Cambodia, spoke highly of the workshop and expressed profound appreciation towards ACC’s efforts in supporting Cambodian tourism industry. He mentioned that the Cambodian government is trying to reopen the society and economy in the new normal and welcome international tourists who have got vaccinated against the COVID-19. This workshop was really on time and practical as the MOTC attached high importance to capacity building of tourism professionals and recovering international tourism market. He also proposed that ACC and MOTC being long-term partners in promoting both tourism capacity building and tourism sustainable development. 

 Chinese Language Training for Chinese Tour Guides of ASEAN is one of the major flagship projects of ACC. Since 2018, the training programme have been co-organised for quite a few editions by ACC and its partners of tourism authorities of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The lectures of Chinese Language Training and Capacity Building Workshop of ASEAN (Cambodia) 2021 comprised Chinese cultural heritages, tour guide service standards and techniques and consumption preferences of Chinese tourists, which were widely welcomed by the Cambodian participants.